Sale Sharks revive Papier pursuit as Jantjies eyes Stormers escape from Bayonne

Sale Sharks are pushing to re-sign Springbok scrum-half Embrose Papier, 29, who has entered the final year of his contract with the Bulls — last season’s URC finalists — with South African sources confirming head coach Alex Sanderson remains firmly interested in the player.

Sale made an earlier approach this year, offering a transfer fee for Papier, who won the last of his Springbok caps against Scotland in July. The pair have history: Papier joined the English club on a short-term deal in September 2019 and made 11 appearances. Sanderson has already moved to bolster his half-back options by bringing in All Blacks XV scrum-half Xavier Roe from the Chiefs following Raffi Quirke’s departure to Newcastle Red Bulls, but Papier is understood to remain a priority target.

Also in the frame for a move back to South Africa is fellow Springbok scrum-half Herschel Jantjies, 30, who has a year remaining on his contract at Bayonne. Bayonne’s director of rugby Laurent Travers is prepared to release Jantjies this summer, a stance that hardened once the player re-entered Rassie Erasmus’ plans for the Nations Championship. Stormers head coach John Dobson is understood to be considering offering Jantjies a return to Durban, where he made close to 100 appearances before moving to France. The vacancy at the Stormers was created in part by serious injuries suffered by Imad Khan and Dewaldt Duvenage against the All Blacks.

In France, former England flanker Lewis Ludlam looks set to commit his future to Toulon, with the 30-year-old ready to sign a contract extension that would keep him at the Stade Mayol until 2029. Ludlam joined Toulon from Northampton Saints and is in the third and final year of his current deal. The extension would end the interest of Gallagher Premiership clubs hoping to bring him back to England. Toulon also have French internationals Charles Ollivon and Jules Coulon out of contract, and held talks with Bayonne’s France A centre Esteban Capilla, though Toulouse and Bordeaux-Bègles are also competing for his signature.

In Wales, Cardiff have identified Bristol Bears tighthead Sam Scott, 20, as a target when his contract expires at the end of the season. Scott, a former Wales under-20 international with 20 age-group caps, has found opportunities limited at Bristol behind Max Lahiff, George Kloska, and Lovejoy Chawatama, making only three appearances in the Premiership Rugby Cup last season. The WRU view him as a long-term successor to Tomas Francis and believe a move to Cardiff would accelerate his development.

Finally, newly promoted Top 14 side Vannes have completed a surprise signing, confirming a two-year deal with North Queensland Cowboys winger Murray Taulagi. The league international, capped by both Australia and Samoa, had been set for a medical ahead of a move to the Sydney Roosters before the deal stalled, prompting him to opt for a switch to French rugby.